Pyrolysis of 2D Coordination Polymer Precursors for the Formation of ORR Active Solid Acid Fuel Cell Electrode Catalysts

Abstract

Described herein is the preparation of solid acid fuel cell (SAFC) electrode materials suitable for intermediate temperature (200° C.-300° C.) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysis via anaerobic, in vacuo pyrolysis of metal-organic coordination polymer precursor materials with divalent metals (e.g. Pt or Pd) as nodes to form small, catalytically active nanoparticles inside a porous, electrically conductive carbonized framework.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing a porous metal-carbon framework, the method comprising:
 mixing 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaminotriphenylene hexahydrochloride, H 2 O, NH 4 OH, and a metal salt to form a metal-containing coordination polymer;   and heating the coordination polymer to a temperature greater than 250° C., thereby reducing metal nodes therein, thus forming the porous metal-carbon framework.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said metal is Pt or Ni. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said metal is Ni and said salt is NiCl 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said metal is Pt and said salt is PtCl 2 . 
     
     
         5 . A material comprising a porous metal-carbon framework,
 the framework in a state of having been formed by mixing 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaminotriphenylene hexahydrochloride, H 2 O, NH 4 OH, and a metal salt to form a metal-containing coordination polymer; and heating the coordination polymer thereby reducing metal nodes therein.   
     
     
         6 . The material of  claim 5 , wherein said metal is Pt or Ni